Crate



Jan. l?, 1928. 1,656,161

A. A. mmm

CRATE Filed Jun@ 6. 1.924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan.. 1-7, 1928.

A. A. BERNDT CRATE Filed June 6, 1924.

moisture from the surfaces oit the bottles, and also with longitudinal and transverse spacing strips forming bottle cells. lVith these features ot the crate, however, my present invention is not concerned.

The crate illustrated, however, is of that type whichA employs lon its bottom a. relatively low rectangular shoe frame or solo comprising vside strips 12 and end strips 13 which, as shown in Fig. 7, are slightly thicker than the superposed side and rend walls ot' the box body.

14 designates as an entirety the corner reinforcing, bonding and protectiim` member which, as best shown in Fig. S, consists ot a channel-shaped angle piece preferably bent to shape from a Vllat` blank of sheet metal, and comprising a web portion consisting ot vertical side walls 15 at right angles to each other and a rounded corner wall 16 connecting said side walls 15, and top and bottom horizontal flat. flanges 17 and 1S, respectively. In the case ot the lower` corners of the crate, one ot these angle pieces Vis fitted onto the corner joint formed at the meeting of the side and end members 12 and 13 ofthe shoe trame, the upper, lower and outer surfaces ot the latter being countersunk by the thickness of the metal, as shown .in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, so as to bring` the outer surfaces ot' the flanges 17 and 18 tiush with the upper and lower surfaces ot the frame member', and the outer surtaces of the web 15 flush with the outer surfaces of the crate walls 10 and 11. Holes 19 and 20 are formed in the tlanges 17 and 18 respectively to receive nails 21 driven therethrough and into the lowermost body section ot the crate.

By'reterence to Fig. 7 it will be noticed that the inner sur'laces of the shoe trame members 12 and 13 are also countersunk, as shown at 22 by the thickness of the metal, making the trame members 12 and 13 at these points of equal thickness with the walls 1() and 11. After the corner piece has been thus applied, with the crate bottom side up, it is placed beneath a die which just tits the interior of the crate, and the descent ot' the die within the latter bends the projecting ends of the wings 17 and 1S l'lat against the, inner walls of the shoe trame members 12, 13 and body members 10, 11, thereby torming lips 23 and 21;, which clinch and securely anchor the metal corner piece to the interior of the crate, auxiliary to the holdingr clltect, of the nails 21. The lips 23 lie in the countersinks 22 of the shoe trame members, so thatlv when pressed into engagement with the internal walls they'lie in the same vertical'planes Wit-h the lips 24. It will be observed that the lips 23 overlap only a portion of the inner sides of the frame members, so that the latter are not entirely snrrounded by the metal, but are ventilated through the uncovered portions of their walls, thus permitting them to dry out, it wet, and avoid rotting.

The corner rein'lir cement pieces at the tour upper corners or the plate are strut-tur ally identical with the corner reintorcement pieces at. the corresponding lower corners, and are applied in the saine way by cutting kerts 25 and 2G (Fig. l) in the ends` olf the side and end walls 1t) and 11 :tor the acconn modation ot the tlanecs 1S ot thc corner pieces, and also preterably countcrsinking the top edges ot said walls. :is shown at 2:3 and 2G', for the acconnufnlation ot thc flanges 17. lVhcn thus applied, the crate in upright form is subjected to a similar die pressing action to bend and lay the lips 223 and 21 snugly over the inner sides olf the walls 10 and 11.

To the four upright corners ot the crate are attached stacki g lugs that are also bent to form from sheet metal blanks; Fig. t) showing the Completed torni of one ot these lugs as it is applied to the corner ot' thc crate. Briefly describing its structurc, 2H constitutes the upstanding portion or body ot the lug formed by the folding ot thc .shcci metal blank substantially mid-length thcrco'tf in such. a way as to proride a hollow genera. ly rectangular structure with substantially flat outer sides 27 at a right angle to cach other, and a concave inner side 28. As shown in Fig. 1, the body 2G" ol each lug is disposed inwardly oI" and above the upper edge of the corner portion ot the crate so as to lit within a coiner ot the shoe vtrame ot a superposed crate. Projecting from the lower edges of the outer sides or walls 27 ot the. lug are a pair of horizontal flanges or wingsr plates 29 that are adapted to lie itat upon tho upper surface ot the corner piece 1t, and arc provided with countersunk holes El() registering and intertittingr with countcrsunk holes 19 ot the corner piece, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. rlhrough the holes 30 and the holes 19 and 20 of the corner piece are driven obliquely fasteningr nails -ll. Dopending from the inner wall 2S oit the lug are a pair of substantially S-shaped limbs :l2 (Fig. 9). lVhen the stacking lug is attached to the corner piece Il by tht` nails ill :is dcscribed, the lower hook sl aped .tree ends 32 of the limbs 32, which are prcterably sharp cned to an edge, lio inst above the lower limb 1S olf the corner piece. 'l`hcrcupon. by the use ot av hammer or a lsuitable swinging tool, outward pressure is applied to the lower curved portions of the limbsl l2 whcrcby their lower ends 32 are forced into thc walls 10 and 11 ot' the box, and are securely anchored therein in the manner clearly shown in Fig. at. This construction alords a very strong anchorage of the li inner walls ot the crate body, mal'n it practically impossible to dislodge them outward lateral thrusts, while the lllii maaier nails securely anchor the lans against dii-ilodgrnient troni inward lateral thrusts.

llroni the foregoing it will be apjgiarent that the walls ot the crate are not only cnrely and rigidly united and bonded together at the corners by the inetal angle pieces il, but that they are ctlectiyely protected againstbraisinp: and breaking' troni rough handling. By extendingl the lips` 2% upwardly against the inner sidesI ot the bottoni traine ineinbers l2 and '1.3, the latter are transversely clamped in such a inanner as to prevent liability olf splitting` by 'the nails 2l; While the lips 23 orerlajiipingi the inner sides oit the Upper portions ot the Walls l() and ll lilreirisc serve to prevent splitting` of said 'walls by vthe nails 3l. Economy oit inanufacture results troni making the corner pieces identical in structure and in terchangreable between the upper and lower corners, while the proriffiion oit the internal lips or flanges 223 and iZel pressed snugly against the inner surfaces ot' the Walls ellt'ectively loclrs the corner pieces in place even though the liastcniin;` nails should Work loose or tall ont lhe described structure out stacking* devices provides very strongl and rigid stacking lugs economically .imunitactnred itroin sheet metal stock9 and the described means et rtl'achinga` saine to both the ripper edges and the internal Walls ot the crate secures said lags in place with a high degree oit rigidity and tenacity..

ln liligrs. l() to l5 inclusive l illustrate a construction diepensing,` with the corner angle piece reiniliorcenient 1G, and employing` the stacking lugs only. rllhe structure ol 'the stacking lng is substantially like. that previously describech but the inner depending liinbs 232 are lornled substantially straight through their lower portions and, are termed with rectangular-ly extending' teet that enter lierts tlf-l torined in the inner surfaces ol the walls oit the crate adjacentto the corner, said lect haying1 nail holes 35, Nails 3G and 37 are driven obliqnely through the holes 30 in the npper l'langes 2S) and the holes in the lect titl. lt will be observed that the nail titi is driven substantially parallel with the sides oit' the crate Wall which roccircs said nail, while the nail 3i" is pre'ifei`- ably and as shown driven obliquely Widthwisc ol the wall from near the outer sui-tace to near the inner surface thereoili. The ineetinn; ends ol the walls are united by horizontally driven nails 38 which, as clearly shown in ll'ig'. l2, are also driven obiionelyg the upper nail 88 preferably passing the nail 3 on the inner side et the lat-ter. This construction. produces n strong` corner joint, and While oit course the corners are not as thor ong-lily protected against abrasion and wear as the joint employing the angle piece 1G, the construction is manifestly nnich cheaper and the depending liinbs oli the stacking lugs are more efiicient-ly anchored in the walls ot the crate by reason ol the positive holding` ellect oli' the nails driven therethrough.

lVhile l have herein shown and described a practical and preferred einboiflinicnt olf' the invention which has been found in service to satisfactorily elieetnatc the stated purposes and objects thereof, it is manifest that ininor changes in the structural details inay be rcsorted to without departing; troni the prin ciple ot' the invention or sacriticino4 any oit the advantages thereof. llcnce l reserve all such variations and. niodilications as -ltall within the spirit and purview olf the ap-` pended claiins.

l claim-- rlille coinbination with a rectangular crate having' a shoe traine attained to the lower edges oit it ide and end Walls5 oli' enbstantially` rectangular niel'al channel nani bers applied to the corners oit said shoe 'traine and iilisigaoz-icd with their Web ijiortions overlying the enter sides ot the corran' porl'iioi'is ot said traine and their llanpges disposed transyersely oli' and eniln'acing said corner portions and projectinginwardly oit the lat-ter, the j n'ojectingportion oit 'the lower llante being` bent ujinfardly to lic llat against vhe lower corner portion ot the inner side olf the shoe traine and the projceiling` portion ot the upper llange being,l bent np* rardly to lie llat against the lower corner portion oit the inner side oi. the snperposed walls oli the crate.

2. 'lhe combination with a rectangular crate having` the corner portions olI its upper edge countersunlr and l'orined with transn verse kerils below and parallel with. said. counter-sank portions7 et substantially rec tangnlar nictal channel inernbers applied to the said upper corners and disposed with their web portions overlyino,- the enter sides ol" said corner portions and their flanges lying in said conntersonlr portions and literie, respectively, and projecting); inwardly el said corner portions, the projecting portions ot said flanges beingbent downwardly to lie llat against the inner sides olf the walls below said conntersnnh portions and lrerlis, rc spectively.

rl`he combination with a rectangular crate having' the corner portions olf its upper edge conntersilnk and itornied with transverse lrerlis below and parallel with said conntersunlr portions7 of substantially rectangular nietal channel inenibers applied to the said upper corners and disposed with their web portions overlyingf the outer sides of said corner portions and, their llanrres lying in said countersunlt portions and lierlis, respectively, and projecting' innf'ardly oli` said corner port-ions, the projectingportions oli said flanges beingl bent downwardly to lie llat against the inner sides ot the Walls below said. coiintersnnlr portions and lrerls,

liti

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lllll respectively, and fastening nails driven through said flanges and the wall portione between and below the latter.

- 4. The combination with a rectangular crate, of stacking lugs applied to the upper corners of said crate, said lugs each having a laterally projecting flange resting upon and secured to the upper edge of the crate and a depeneding limb formed with a hook at its lower end anchored in the inner wall of the crate.

5. The combination with a rectangular crate, of stocking lugs applied to the upper corners of said crate, each of said lugs comprising an upstanding member of sheet metal folded upon itseli", a laterally projecting vflange continuous with the lower end of one of said folds resting upon and secured to the upper edge of the crate, and a depending limb continuous with the other fold secured to the inner wall of the crate.

6. The combination with a rectangular crate having the corner portions of its upper edge countiersunk and VFormed with transverse keriay below and parallel with said countersunk portions, ot substantially reetangular inetal channel nienihers` applied to the said upper corners and disposed with their web portions orerl, \,'iirl the outer sides of eaideorner portions and their upper and lower flanges lying in said eountersunli pow tions and kerfs, respectively, said upper langes having` eountersunl holes. stacking" lugs having' laterallyv projecting; llannjes formed with eountersunk holes registering; I

with the countersunk holes ot the upper flanges oit said channel members and depending liinbs formed with hook-shaped lower ends driven into the walls oi the cratey just above the lower flanges oll said eliannel nieinbei and fastening' nails driven througrh the registerinpr holes ot said .stacking lug and channel nieniber ilang'es into the wallsy of the crate. 

